State of New York

Cayuga County

 

On this fifteenth day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appearing before me Augustus Tunis Judge of the Court of common Pleas Cayuga County Uzziah Conger a resident of the Town of Ira in the county of Cayuga and the State of New York aged Seventy Five years who being first duly sworn according to law both on his oath makes the following declaration.

 

1.      Says that he was born in the Town of Woodbridge in the State of New Jersey and moved from there with his father to a place called Nine Pastures in the County of Duchess New York and from there to the Town of Bethlehem in the County of Albany and resided there when the Continental War broke out and of the revolution – and some time after the commencement of the War (the year he does not recall) was drafted as a Militiaman and went under the command of Captain William Winney to Saratoga, was employed part of the time in building barracks at the place and served until he had permission to return home how long he is unable to say but believes it to be over two months.

2.    Shortly after was called out again and went to the same place and under the same officer (Captain W. Winney) continued there at Saratoga on duty about two months, Coll. Vandenberg commanded.

3.     Volunteered some short time after returning home from Saratoga under Cap. Phillip Luke joined the company at Albany and was under his command and marched from Albany to Fort Miller about July miles from Albany.  Cap Luke had the command at Fort Miller continued there until they marched towards Albany from that place was set at liberty on the way, and returned home that time of service was between two and three months.

4.    Went out again whether drafted or volunteered cannot say - went under Cap. Phillip Luke joined the company in Albany and marched up the Hudson River above Still Water on the East side of the river and was stationed nearly opposite the Barracks that was then on the West side of the river served at that time about between two and three months was marched to Albany and then discharged and returned home.

5.     Went out again under Cap. John Van Wie and marched from Albany on the West side of the river was encamped there in the county of Saratoga continued there about two months was discharged and returned home.

6.    Went out under the command of Captain James Burnside joined the company at Albany and marched about eight miles above Albany on and Island in the mouth of Hudson River continued there about one month there General Gates took command of the troops (it was at the time General Schuyler retreated) then marched from there to Still Water at all this time while on the Island and at Still Water had my gun the same having been taken by a band or gang of robbers which at that time was scouring the county and my officers had no arms to furnish me with – was employed a part of the time in making breast works how long that time of service was cannot recollect but believe it was over two months it was but a short time before Burgoyne was taken.

7.     Enlisted after that time as near as he can remember in a company of Rangers Under the command of Cap. John Devoe for the purpose of scouring the County to prevent the Tories from committing depredations – who were then in ( gauged) about the county and served for one year it was immediately after the taking of Burgoyne and after the expiration of my service under Captain John Devoe went to the Church Fort and joined a company in Schoharie and went there for the purpose of guarding the place against the Indians and Tories who were then lurking about the county was there about six weeks returned home a few days went back and joined the company and continued two months and afterwards Coll. Vader had the command and during that tour of duty was sent on a scouting party in pursuit of one John Coons a Tory – took several horses- took Coons horse and several head of Cattle.

8.    Went out Under Cap. Ephraim Hudson to Schoharie and was stationed at the Middle fort at that time continued about two months was dismissed and returned home.

9.    Went out was hired to take a tour of duty for one Andreas Bratt went to Schoharie and was stationed at the Middle Fort under the command of  Ephraim Hudson Captain was there on month and then dismissed.  Was at Schoharie at the time Col. Butler went down the (Tasuckannak) some where in that quarter and destroyed the corn of the Indians was there when Butler went away and when he returned.

10.                        Was at the Upper Fort in Schoharie under Lieutenant Thomas Iona in the fall of the year continued there about two months marched from there and went home.

11.  Was out under command of Lieut. Tho. Iona when Brant and Tory Butler marched though the Town of Schoharie and burned the town and the houses.  Says he cannot recollect dates and the year when he was out in the service - recollects his Captains he served under and recollects that they had the command of the quarter part of the time being stationed the most part of the time as guards. He and their companies the only troops stationed at the places frequently Superior officers were there but did not continue long, was gone and then returned.  Has lived in Bethlehem since the revolution until about twenty years since, moved to Cayuga County and has resided there ever since and now resides in the Town of Ida.  He the said Uzziah Conger hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State. 

 

Sworn subscribed before me this 15th day of September 1832 Augustus F. Ferris one of the judges of Cayuga County Courts (his mark Uzziah Conger)

 

Chauncey Cook Minister of the Presbyterian Church in the Town of Ira Cayuga County State of New York and Jonas Sitas of the Town of Hannibal County of Oswego and State of New York hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Uzziah Conger who has subscribe and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Seventy four year of age that he is respected and believed to be in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a solider of the Revolution and that we concur in the opinion.

 

Sworn and subscribed this fifteenth day of September 1832… Before me Augustus F. Ferris a Judge of Cay. Cty.   Signed Chauncey Cook and Jonas H. Sitas

State of New York

Cayuga County

        On this sixteenth day of January in the year 1834 personally appearing before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace of the town of Ira Cayuga County and states aforesaid Uzziah Conger who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he enlisted in a company of Ranger commanded by Capt. John Devoe in the town of Bethlehem Albany County it was shortly after the taking a Burgoyne and continued in the service for one year being the time he enlisted to serve and obliging his service therein was called several times out in small parties to hunt out, rout out and destroy parties of Tories and other enemies who were lurking about the country – Went out once on a scouting party near the Catskill Mountains, at that time took four men prisoners and took them to Bethlehem, they were then taken to Albany deponent was present and saw them hung – At another time took a considerable (amount) of property such as clothing to which has been taken from the citizens by the enemy - and many other scouts throughout the country and at the time and expiration of his service of the year aforesaid or at any other period of service for which he served - never had any written discharge from the said Captain Devoe or any other officer for that service - neither has he ever had any written discharge from any officer - neither has he any recollection of any discharge being given in writing to any one in the service - when he served on any tour of duty – Deponent further saith that at the present does not know of any writing by which he could prove any service which he has done - except that of Obadiah Cooper who resided at the time in the Town of Bethlehem   

Sworn and subscribed before me

Benj. Conger a Justice of the Peace                              Uzziah Conger (his mark)

Of Ira Cayuga County

 

State of New York

Cayuga County

        On this fourteenth day of January 1834 before men Benjamin conger a Justice of the Peace of the Town of Ira in the County of Cayuga aforesaid Personally appeared Obadiah Cooper of the Town of Congress in said County and being by me duly Sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Uzziah Conger of the Town of Ira aforesaid – That in the Revolution this deponent and the said Uzziah lived in the Town of Bethlehem in the County of Albany in the State of New York, that the year after Burgoyne was taken, there was a company of Ranger raised in Bethlehem to serve for one year and that the said Uzziah enlisted in said company - which company was commanded by Captain John Devoe and that he the said Deponent saw the said Uzziah on duty and in service in said company from time to time and that he served in said company commanded by the said John Devoe – in and during the year in which his enlisted and further this deponent further says that he this deponent resided in Bethlehem during that year for which the company was raised to serve under the said Captain Devoe and is well Knowing to this the said Uzziah - obliging duty and serving in said Company in and during the year for which he was to enlisted as aforesaid – and further this deponent saith that he was knowing to this the said Uzziah Conger being in the service at Saratoga under Captain John Van Wie and Colonel Vandenberg and further this deponent saith that he is 74 years old the 14th day of January 1834

B. Conger, Justice                                           Obadiah Cooper

 

        I the above named Justice do hereby certify, I am well acquainted with Obadiah Cooper the above mentioned and who has subscribed his name therein and sworn by on to the above affidavit and that he is a credible person of truth and veracity

January 14th 1834                                           Benjamin Conger, Justice

 

 

Personally appearing before me this undersigned a Justice of the Peace of the Town of Ira Cayuga County and State of New York, Uzziah Conger who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positive by the precise lengths of the service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grades –

        Under Captain William Winney – Colonel Vandenberg commanded – was drafted as a militiaman – went to Saratoga – served two months as a private – which service was in the year 1776 – and in the same year was again called out in the same year and under the same Captain William Winney to Saratoga as a private – continued there on duty two month – Col. Vandenberg commanded

        In the fore part of the summer in the year 1777 – Volunteered under Captain Philip Luke went as a private – marched to Fort Miller above Albany was stationed there a guard on outpost, Captain had command, marched towards Albany and was discharged on the way – time of service two and a half months

        In the same year 1777 went out again cannot recollect whether drafted or volunteered but believes volunteered went as a private under Captain Phillip Luke, marched up the Hudson River on the East side above Stillwater – served at that time two and a half month – was stationed there as guard on outposts

        In August in the year 1777 went out as a volunteer under Captain James Burnside – joined the company at Albany – marched from there to an Island about 8 miles distance – continued there one month, Then General Gates took the command – it was at the time General Schuyler retired – marched from the Island to Stillwater, continued there one month – was employed in building breast works it was a short time before the taking of Burgoyne – was in the service the principal part of the time in the year 1777

        In the year 1778 enlisted in a company of Rangers under the command of Captain John Devoe and served under him for one year it was immediately after the taking of Burgoyne

        In the year 1779 after my time of service had expired in the Company of Rangers under Captain John Devoe – I then volunteered went to the Church Fort Schoharie and there served one month and a half returned home a few day – Then went back and joined the company – Colonel Vader (Veeder) had the command continued two months then returned home.  Then volunteered under Cap. Ephraim Hudson went to Schoharie continued there two months in service, served as corporal under him – Col. Butler commanded – was discharged – went out again under Capt. E. Hudson was hired to take a tour of duty for one Andreas Bradt – served one month and was discharged – Col. Butler had the command.  In the same year volunteered under Lieut. Thomas Iona in the fall of the year (snow on the ground) served under him for two months as a corporal – was under the command of Lieut. Iona during this tour of duty –

        In the year 1780 volunteered under Lieutenant Iona and went to Schoharie served as a corporal – was there at the time Butler and Brandt burned the Town – it was in September of the same year, was there under of the command of Lieut. Iona and served one month and was then discharged.

        In the year 1782 volunteered under Captain John Van Wie – Marched from Albany to Saratoga – went on the west side of the Hudson River – was in the service under him two months – was then discharged – and that was the time during which the services was performed and not employed in any civil pursuits – and for such service I claim a pension.

Sworn and Subscribed

This 1st day of July                                                                     Uzziah Conger (his mark)

1833 before me

Elijah S. Everett – Justice of the Peace

 

State of New York

Cayuga County

        Michael S. Myers. Clerk of said County Do certify that Elijah S. Everett Esq. was at the time the within affidavit purports to have been sworn, a Justice of the Peace of said County; and that I am acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe that his signature subscribed to said affidavit is genuine. 

        Witness my hand and official Seal at Auburn in said County this eleventh day of July A.D. 1833.

                                                                M. P. Meyers



Transcribed By Charles F. Luke

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